The Best Tower Fans of 2023

Find the best tower fan for your space, needs, and budget among these cooling favorites.

By Andreana Lefton and Tiffany Lewis | Updated Feb 5, 2024 4:27 AM

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The Best Tower Fan Option

Photo: amazon.com

Many people use a fan to assist in circulating indoor air and increasing comfort. Of all the different types of fans that exist on the market—window, pedestal, box, and wall-mount varieties—tower fans sometimes rise above the rest. Why? Their combination of high-efficiency, space-saving design, surprisingly quiet operation, and smart features.

Keep reading to learn more about these fans, get tips on navigating the available options, and explore some of the best tower fan models available.

  1. BEST OVERALL: Lasko Portable Electric 42-Inch Oscillating Tower Fan
  2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Honeywell QuietSet Mini Tower Fan
  3. BEST SMART: Lasko Wind Curve Electric Oscillating Tower Fan
  4. BEST BLADELESS: Dyson Cool AM07 Air Multiplier Tower Fan
  5. BEST AIR CIRCULATION: Vornado 154 Whole Room Air Circulator Tower Fan
  6. BEST HEATER AND FAN: Lasko Fan & Space Heater Combo Tower
  7. BEST WITH AIR PURIFIER:Dyson TP02 Pure Cool Link Connected Air Purifier
  8. BEST WITH IONIZER: Lasko Portable Electric 42-Inch Fan With Air Ionizer
  9. BEST QUIET: Honeywell QuietSet Whole Room Tower Fan
Best Tower Fan

Photo: amazon.com

How We Chose the Best Tower Fans

We researched the most sought-after tower fans in their respective categories and discovered that the best models are determined by their type, airflow capabilities, functionality, size, ease of use, and other special features included by select brands.

While searching for the best options available, the floor-standing tower fans were the most popular type among users for their ample airflow capabilities. While not as popular, the bladeless, desktop/portable, and smart fans are viable options for their ease of use, safety features, and airflow settings.

To ensure our list included the best options on the market, we included fans with high CFM (cubic feet per minute) ratings of 720 to 1,271 and additional functions including oscillation, air purification, ionization, and heating capabilities. Many models are compact enough to fit on a desk, while others take up little space in corners or next to furniture. For added convenience, many of these fans have LED/LCD screens; remote controls; are compatible with apps, smartphones, and tablets; have automatic timers and sleep modes; and are lightweight enough to move or transport if needed.

Our Top Picks

These top picks have been listed in a variety of categories to suit the unique needs of individual users. Read on to discover some of the best tower fans on the market today for cooling your home.

Best Overall

The Best Tower Fan Option: Lasko Portable Electric 42-Inch Oscillating Tower Fan
Photo: amazon.com

The Lasko portable tower fan works well in any size room of a home. This 42-inch tower fan cools a user in either a sitting or a standing position, and the wide oscillation covers the entire room. This fan is ideal for users looking for a fan for the bedroom, home office, personal gym, and more. Users can select the nighttime setting at bedtime, which automatically decreases the fan speed and dims the control lights.

This oscillating tower fan comes with three speed settings so users can adjust the airflow according to their needs without struggling to hear over the din of the unit. Users also have the option of setting an electronic auto-off timer between ½ hour and 7½ hours with the help of the control panel.

Product Specs

  • Type: Floor-standing
  • CFM: 720
  • Fan speeds: 3
  • Size:13 inches in diameter by 42.5 inches high

Pros

  • Wide oscillation for even air distribution in large spaces
  • Night mode will not disturb light sleepers; dims lights and fan speed
  • 3 fan speed settings; remote control included for adjusting
  • Programmable auto-off timer; preserves power and saves money on the energy bill
  • Control panel built into the unit for quick changes

Cons

  • May not last longer than 2 years

Get the Lasko Portable Electric tower fan at Amazon or The Home Depot.

Best Bang for the Buck

The Best Tower Fans Option: Honeywell QuietSet Mini Tower Fan
Photo: amazon.com

Those looking for an inexpensive tower fan might benefit from the Honeywell QuietSet Mini tower fan. This little but powerful floor fan allows you to program the sound and cooling power for complete personalization while you work, sleep, or play. Plus, it comes with four preprogrammed levels and optional oscillation for quick and easy air distribution.

This Honeywell fan also comes with an auto shut-off timer that can be set to 2-, 4-, or 8-hour increments on the touch control panel or the included remote control. It can also fit in smaller bedrooms or in corners with its compact 13-inch-high by 5.1-inch-wide size. Overall, this Honeywell is the perfect option for bedrooms, nurseries, and offices.

Product Specs

  • Type: Floor standing
  • CFM: Not provided
  • Fan speeds: 4
  • Size: 5.1 inches in diameter by 13 inches high

Pros

  • Sound and airflow can be customized to meet users’ needs
  • 4 preprogrammed fan speed settings and optional oscillation
  • Auto shut-off timer comes with 2-, 4-, and 8-hour increments
  • Touch control panel and remote control for quick changes

Cons

  • May not provide adequate airflow for some users’ needs

Get the Honeywell QuietSet mini tower fan at Amazon or Staples.

Best Smart

The Best Tower Fan Option: Lasko Wind Curve Electric Oscillating Tower Fan
Photo: amazon.com

Guilty of losing remote controls? Tired of looking for them? No problem. Unlike other tower fans, this oscillating tower fan from Lasko comes with an app that users can install on their mobile devices, allowing them to control the fan using their phone or tablet from up to 75 feet away. The tower also has a timer so users can set it to turn off automatically after a time.

The 42-inch, high-reaching Lasko tower fan maximizes air delivery in any room. It comes with three speeds and optional oscillation. Even when running on high, it has a quiet operation and can produce the right amount of white noise needed for sleeping. The space-saving 13-inch by 13-inch base design of the tower fan makes it suitable for those who want to place it in a dorm, a house, an office, and even an RV.

Product Specs

  • Type: Floor standing, smart
  • CFM: 634
  • Fan speeds: 3
  • Size:13 inches in diameter by 42 inches high

Pros

  • The Lasko app allows for quick and easy control via smartphone or tablet
  • Built-in programmable timer; ideal for those who sleep with a fan on
  • 3 speed settings included to meet your airflow requirements
  • Quiet operation volume will not cause any noise pollution
  • Control panel built into the unit for quick changes

Cons

  • Vibration of the oscillating function may cause some noise

Get the Lasko Wind Curve tower fan on Amazon or The Home Depot.

Best Bladeless

The Best Tower Fan Option: Dyson Cool AM07 Air Multiplier Tower Fan
Photo: amazon.com

This Dyson tower fan uses Air Multiplier technology to create impressive airflow throughout a room. And this technology removes the need for blades, which makes the fan safe for children, pets, and cleaning. This oscillating fan also has streamlined air channels for reduced airflow turbulence—translation, it’s nice and quiet when it runs, and it uses less energy when it does, which means less power consumed.

With the remote control, users can manage the sleep timer and the oscillation direction. In addition, the curved magnetized remote can store neatly on the machine.

Product Specs

  • Type: Floor standing, bladeless
  • CFM: 1,271
  • Fan speeds: 10
  • Size:9.1 inches in diameter by 39.6 inches high

Pros

  • Sleek, bladeless design; safe for homes with children and pets
  • Quiet operation will not cause noise pollution or disturb sleepers
  • Energy-efficient construction saves money on th energy bill
  • Remote control included with purchase for quick changes anytime

Cons

  • Some users report difficulty using the remote control’s functions

Get the Dyson Cool AM07 tower fan at Amazon.

Best Air Circulation

The Best Tower Fan Option: Vornado 154 Whole Room Air Circulator Tower Fan
Photo: amazon.com

Looking for constant air circulation across a wide direction? This Vornado tower fan can help. Its V-Flow technology uses a unique crosscut outlet to create a wide span of steady airflow. And its powerful motor pushes air out up to 80 feet to keep family members or guests cool even at the other end of a room.

Users can select between four speed settings and choose from four timer settings for an efficient, energy-saving solution. The magnetic remote control allows users to operate the tower fan from a distance. When not in use, it stores tidily on top of the unit.

Product Specs

  • Type: Floor standing
  • CFM: 385
  • Fan speeds: 4
  • Size:11 inches in diameter by 32 inches high

Pros

  • Pushes air up to 80 feet; suitable for large spaces or entire apartments
  • 4 speed and timer settings included to meet your airflow requirements
  • Energy-efficient design saves money on energy bills
  • Magnetic remote control attaches to the unit or furniture

Cons

  • Some users report difficulty cleaning the unit; dust and fine particles may accumulate over time

Get the Vornado tower fan at Amazon or The Home Depot.

Best Heater and Fan

The Best Tower Fans Option: Lasko Fan & Space Heater Combo Tower
Photo: amazon.com

Bring the heat in the winter and the cold in the summer with the Lasko fan and space heater tower. This mighty and sleek fan/heater unit has three hot airflow levels to choose from as well as four quiet fan speeds to accommodate any weather conditions or season. As many heaters do, this Lasko unit has a tip-over switch as well as an overheat protection function to prevent burns and fires.

This unit will not take up a lot of space with its 42-inch height and 13-inch-diameter footprint, making it ideal for bedrooms, living rooms, and offices. Plus, the whisper-quiet functionality of this unit will not cause noise pollution or disturb light sleepers. Finally, this unit comes with a remote control, a built-in carrying handle, an oscillation function, digital thermostat, and an 8-hour programmable timer for overnight use. All in all, this Lasko fan is ideal for those who want to save on energy bills no matter the weather or season.

Product Specs

  • Type: Floor standing
  • CFM: 350
  • Fan speeds: 4; 3 heat settings
  • Size: 13 inches in diameter by 42 inches high

Pros

  • Delivers heating and cooling power for every season; 3 heat settings and 4 fan settings
  • Tip-over switch and overheat protection prevents burns and fires
  • Quiet functionality will not disturb sleepers or cause noise pollution
  • Comes with a digital thermostat as well as a remote control
  • 8-hour programmable timer is ideal for those who sleep with the fan on

Cons

  • Some users have reported that the digital thermostat is too bright at night
  • May wobble slightly when used on high airflow settings

Get the Lasko combo tower at Amazon or Target.

Best with Air Purifier

The Best Tower Fans Option: Dyson TP02 Pure Cool Link Connected Air Purifier
Photo: amazon.com

Create a clean, healthy home using this tower fan and air purifier from Dyson. It features a HEPA filter that seizes 99.97 percent of the impurities in the air, including particles as small as allergens and bacteria. The filtration system also uses activated carbon to remove gases and odors.

Only purified air circulates into the room, and if the fan senses a change to the air quality, it reports this in real-time on the LCD screen and the user’s Dyson Link app.

The fan oscillates at 360 degrees to ensure the clean air makes its way around the whole room. And the fan comes with 10 fan speeds so users can set the airflow to suit their needs.

Product Specs

  • Type: Floor standing, bladeless, and smart
  • CFM: 869
  • Fan speeds: 10
  • Size: 40 inches high by 7.5 inches wide by 4.4 inches deep

Pros

  • HEPA air purifier is built-in; catches 99.7 percent of allergens and dust particles
  • Built-in LCD screen for quick changes and user-friendliness
  • Dyson Link app allows for remote controlling from smart devices
  • 360-degree oscillation distributes cool air evenly in a space

Cons

  • Some users have reported loud operating volumes on higher settings

Get the Dyson TP02 tower fan at Amazon.

Best with Ionizer

The Best Tower Fan Option: Lasko Portable Electric 42-Inch Fan with Air Ionizer
Photo: amazon.com

This tower fan from Lasko features an internal ionizer that disperses millions of negative ions that bond with the positively charged ions in the air like dust, bacteria, pollen, smoke, and other allergens. Once bonded, the particles fall to the ground, the negative ion levels grow, and the air feels naturally fresher.

The tower fan also comes with three speed settings that have a quiet sound even on the highest level. Great for beating the heat and cooling a room, the fan can provide users with white noise to help them get a better night’s sleep. It also has wide optional oscillation for moving the air around the room.

The 42-inch-high tower fan has a 13-inch by 13-inch base footprint, which doesn’t sacrifice much floor space. As a result, it’s an ideal fan for use in a dorm, a house, a home office, a workout room, or an RV.

Product Specs

  • Type: Floor standing
  • CFM: 262
  • Fan speeds: 3
  • Size: 13 inches in diameter by 42.5 inches high

Pros

  • Removes dust, bacteria, pollen, smoke, and other allergens from the air
  • 3 speed settings included to meet the your airflow requirements
  • Quiet operation volume will not cause noise pollution or disturb light sleepers
  • Control panel built into the unit for quick changes

Cons

  • Not as energy efficient as other tower fans

Get the Lasko tower fan with air ionizer at Amazon or The Home Depot.

Best Quiet

The Best Tower Fan Option: Honeywell QuietSet Whole Room Tower Fan
Photo: amazon.com

If you are looking for a quiet tower fan, the Honeywell QuietSet whole-room tower fan features eight speed and quiet level settings: power cool, cool, refresh, relax, white noise, calm, whisper, and sleep. It also comes with a 12-hour auto shut-off timer so users can fall asleep or walk away from the room, confident in knowing the fan won’t run all night or all day.

The LED display comes with a dimming feature so users can turn it down at night. And the remote control allows the user to access settings from anywhere in the room. The sturdy base keeps the fan in place as it oscillates, projecting air throughout the room. The unit is ideal for users wanting the comforts of a fan without the hassle of noise.

Read our full review: Lasko Portable Electric 42-Inch Fan With Air Ionizer

Product Specs

  • Type: Floor standing
  • CFM: 670
  • Fan speeds: 8
  • Size: 15.75 inches wide by 39.8 inches high

Pros

  • Multiple airflow settings included to suit any user’s airflow preferences
  • 12-hour auto shut-off timer provides energy efficiency
  • LED display; dimming feature is ideal for bedroom use
  • Remote control included for quick changes from anywhere

Cons

  • Some users report limited airflow compared to similar options

Get the Honeywell QuietSet whole-room tower fan at Amazon or The Home Depot.

Jump to Our Top Picks



What to Consider When Choosing a Tower Fan

When shopping for the best tower fan for your home or office, there are a few things to consider, including type, size, capacity, noise level, and additional features.

Type

Tower fans are available in different types that vary in functionality including floor-standing, desktop/portable, bladeless, and smart. Here are some key features included in these respective types:

  • Floor-standing: Most tower fans that are floor-standing take up less space than pedestal or traditional fans because they have a small footprint with a tall and narrow design. Floor-standing fans also tend to blend well with the decor in the room, with a sleek style compared to a pedestal fan. In addition, floor-standing fans can cool a whole room.
  • Desktop/portable: A smaller version of a floor-standing fan, desktop/portable tower fans work on side tables, desks, countertops, and tables. You can use them more as a personal fan while working, sleeping, sitting, and watching TV.
  • Bladeless: The blades in a “bladeless” fan are hidden inside the ring that forms around the center. A bladeless design provides more safety because small children can’t hurt their fingers, and animals can’t hurt their tails in spinning blades. They are also much easier to clean because you don’t need to access the blades to dust them. These fans are generally much quieter than standard tower fans. There is one negative to note with all these positives: bladeless fans tend to cost much more than traditional tower fans.
  • Smart: Some fans come with Bluetooth technology and the ability to install an app on iOS or Android so users can control the fan from a phone or a tablet. Shoppers can find smart floor-standing, desktop, and bladeless fans.

Size

Most tower fans are designed to be tall and slender to circulate air through a room without taking up significant space. Most floor-standing models are about 50 inches high with heads between approximately 18 and 30 inches in diameter. While a pedestal fan with a larger head occupies more space, it is also capable of moving more cold air.

Pedestal fans must accommodate the dimensions of the space they’ll be cooling, so it’s essential to consider room size so as not to end up with a model that’s too small. An 18-inch fan should function well for the average bedroom or a small living area, while a larger 30-inch fan is suitable for ventilating large rooms like a garage or a living room.

Functions

While the primary function of a tower fan is to cool a room, shoppers will come across other functions and additional features while shopping for one.

  • Oscillating tower fan: Most tower fans oscillate, or rotate from side to side, in order to direct cool air over a wider area or an entire room. Consumers will typically find tower fans with an oscillating arc of 90 degrees or 95 degrees. A handful of tower fans on the market can oscillate a full 360 degrees, but unless you plan to place the fan in the center of a room, full-circle rotation is probably unnecessary. Some models also come with the ability to select the width of the oscillating arc.
  • Heating: Some tower fans also come with heating for the colder months. It allows you to warm up a room without necessarily turning up the heat in the entire house.
  • Ionizing: Built-in ionizers will release negative ions that bond with positive ions, such as smoke and other particles from the air. As they bond, they will fall to the ground, and the air will become fresher.
  • Air purifying: Some tower fans come with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter that will ideally remove up to 99.97 percent of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and other airborne 0.3-micron particles from the air.

CFM and Speed Settings

A fan’s cooling power is determined by measuring how much air the fan can move within 1 minute, which is expressed in cubic feet per minute (CFM). Manufacturers use the CFM measurement as a way to empirically demonstrate the amount of airflow the fan can produce, which is especially important for cooling large rooms, garages, and industrial or commercial spaces.

The CFM measurement is typically provided as the maximum amount of airflow, but many fans have additional speed settings that can be used for reduced airflow and quiet operation. It’s common to have a low, medium, and high setting, which may also be represented as 1, 2, or 3 on a fan. The low setting is great for simply moving the air in the room without feeling a direct breeze, while medium and high settings will increase the speed and airflow so the breeze can reach people across a room.

To determine the appropriate CFM airflow for your tower fan, consider room size:

  • Under 200 square feet: 3,000 CFM or less
  • 200 to 300 square feet: 3,000 CFM to 4,000 CFM
  • 300 to 450 square feet: 4,000 to 6,000 CFM
  • Over 450 square feet: 6,000 to 1,000 CFM

Fan Modes

Most tower fans come equipped with modes for easy operation, such as a thermostat that automatically turns the unit on and off based on room temperature. Some models also have timers that turn them off after a preset number of hours, preventing the floor fan from accidentally being left on in an unoccupied room.

Many of the best tower fans for bedroom spaces have a night mode, which runs the fan at a quiet speed for 6 hours before shutting off, and a turbo mode, which runs at high speed for maximum airflow and cooling power. The user can set these modes on a control console on the fan or, if included, via a remote from across the room.

Noise Level

Since tower fans have smaller blades, they’re typically quieter than other types of fans. Most produce a low “humming” noise as opposed to the louder “whooshing” noise of fans with larger blades. The sound usually isn’t loud enough to impede conversation or hinder sleep. On lower settings, tower fans will typically emit even less sound, leading some manufacturers to use terms like “whisper-quiet” and “calm.”

Some tower fans have a quieter nighttime setting, and bladeless fans tend to produce the least amount of noise. If quiet operation is a priority, stick with a tower fan that has a lower decibel (dB) rating. For comparison, a normal conversation is about 55 dB, whispering is about 30 dB, ambient office noises are around 70 dB, and a noisy restaurant is approximately 80 dB.

FAQs

Now that you know more about tower fans, you might still have questions about how they work and how they are used. The following are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about tower fans to help you get the most out of your purchase.

Q. What are tower fans good for?

They circulate the air in a room and increase comfort. These fans are particularly effective in summer months when heat is tough to battle, which is why they come with powerful airflow settings to keep a home cool. Plus, many come with oscillation for distributing air evenly throughout a home.

Q. Do tower fans cool better than regular fans?

Although tower fans are considered powerful among their regular counterparts, they are not the strongest fan variety on the market. Pedestal fans have larger blades and will provide more air circulation than a tower fan.

Q. What is an oscillating tower fan?

An oscillating fan rotates from side to side in order to direct airflow over a wider area. Many of the tower fans available today can be programmed to run an oscillating fan cycle to keep air circulating around a room continuously. This fan is particularly helpful for those who like to sleep with a fan on in their bedroom.

Q. What is the best tower fan with a HEPA filter?

Our choice for the best tower fan with a HEPA filter is the Dyson TP02 tower fan. This Dyson is not only powerful when it comes to airflow, it also filters out 99.8 percent of allergens, dust, and dander.

Q. Which tower fan is the quietest?

One of the quietest tower fans on the market today is the Honeywell QuietSet whole-room tower fan. This little unit is perfect for offices and bedrooms since it causes little to no noise pollution and distributes air evenly throughout a space.

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